A View from the Handbasket.

Finally Home

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 03:39:51 GMT

Bob and I have finally returned to the homestead with our dogs. We are tired out, but had a good time. The convention was a blast, and Ash seemed to relish being at the lake. Willow had everyone at the Con twisted around her little paw. As usual. I will never get her back from being spoiled!

HP Meme

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 07:20:09 GMT

Because everyone else will do it, and I'm avoiding packing. Who would have guessed that my hubby would turn into a Wolf?... Bob and wolfs, I never would have looked there.

Your result for The Harry Potter Husband Test...

Mrs. Black

Your perfect HP man is Sirius Black.

You want a relationship filled with fun times, with a guy who you know will always back you up. Sure, he's a bit of a jerk with anyone who he doesn't approve of, but as long as he likes you, he'll be a lot of fun. Your days will be filled with laughter and merriment, though if you ever have kids, you'd better be prepared to lay some rules down or else they'll end up with a bunch of reckless rulebreakers running around, transforming into animals at every turn.

Take The Harry Potter Husband Test at HelloQuizzy

Olympics

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:49:57 GMT

Gee, guess I'm boycotting the Olympics. Why? Because I managed to schedule a vacation over them... At least my morals and my obsession don't have to fight it out. I just hate to miss the Equestrian events, and the gymnastics, and the opening ceremonies, and the track events, and, and, and... *gulp*

Lead in Crockpots?

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:17:23 GMT

Thanks to kimberlychapman for posting this article about the possiblity of Lead in your Crockpot!

http://www.kutv.com/content/news/topnews/story.aspx?content_id=f8eb08d7-f588-462b-a113-447426ea4816

The evil squid has left the building

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:03:41 GMT

so, Noiseinmyhead came over around 11:30? On saturday, to help finish the decorating. I had them all frosted, and we just needed to do the second hard part! The painting! And piping, and, and, and.... after a couple hours of frantic activity, we actually managed to put out a couple of cool looking cakes. I named the Orca George. He promised me that if the squid started to climb up the stairs, he would alert the dogs. Noiseinmyhead did an amazing job painting the squid, while I worked at the arctic cake. She also ended up painting the fondant animals to go on the cake. She did a great job. The Squid turned out looking well, terrifying. The arctic cake I thought was just adorable, and I would have loved to have it for a birthday cake myself. I promise, pictures are forth coming, but I can't upload them on this computer, and my other one is down, since I'm leaving for two weeks next weekend, it might be a month or so before I get them up, but I promise to put them up so you can either oh and ahh... (in which case it was all Noiseinmyhead, and kimberlychapman... If they look horrid, It's my fault.)

Adventures in Cake baking

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 07:25:25 GMT

Giant Squid is not a happy Squid. I think that Giant Squid hates the world. Luckily, he will be eaten tomorrow at 2pm by a bunch of 6 year olds... Justice!

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:02:13 GMT

Valkyrie_Kitten does not like 'Leather Lady'. Valkyrie_Kitten does not like designers who talk in third person. Valkyrie_Kitten wants you to know that if you don't understand what she means, that you should watch more Project Runway.

Old, Old recipes

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:41:12 GMT

I scored a great find the last time I visited my Dad's house. I walked away with my maternal grandmother's recipe box! In the last of her years, my mother had been using the front half of it to store "favorite family recipes". She would give out a small recipe box with about 20 or so recipes nicely typed up, all favorites of my immediate family. These would be give as extra gifts as showers, house warmings, just about anywhere. The really great part of the find though, was the back half of the box. It still has my grandmothers recipes. Recipes from before I was born. Things that my mother never made, but I can barely remember from Sunday dinner. (Grandma died when I was in 6th grade) Now the challenging part is reading hand written recipes on old scrap paper from the 40's and 50's! I was really confused about am abbreviation that kept showing up. About half the recipes called for a teaspoon to table spoon of "GSB" WTF??? I finally remembered that grandma would make a spice mix that she would keep in a small canning jar. (General spice blend?) It got added to everything, then other spices were added as needed. Do you think there is a single person who knows what this blend was? Or even a note somewhere written down? Nope. I even called my dad, and made him search the 10 or so other boxes of recipes that are still at his house. None of my mother's generation are still living. So I'm afraid that the secret is gone. I am going to write to all my cousins, second cousins, and odd relatives on that side of the family to see if any of them have any idea, or memory. I know some of Mom's cousins were cooks whe used things other than caned soup to season food. (and you wonder why I took over cooking in our house at the age of 8?!! I wasn't any better at first, but I didn't burn the cookies.) *grin* I'm so happy to find this connection to my grandma. It even has several of the recipes from her Wedding cake business... with lots of unreadable notes... but hey!! (the butter cream icing that takes three pounds of butter is terrifying! but actually looks good.... hummmm... I can feel my arteries hardening just reading it!)

Writer's Block: Last Call

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:05:21 GMT

You are on a plane that's about to crash. You have time to make ONE phone call. Who do you call and what do you say?

Submitted by lovelylette_x3

View other answers

My first thought was to call my husband and say I love him. (and not tell him I'm dying)

But really, really, deep down inside. I would take the change to call my evil Uncle on a stick. Who Accused me and my mother of killing my grandmother by having her babysit me. (like you could stop her) to tell him that showign up on my mothers death bed does not make up for the years of mental torment he put her through, nor does it make up for the way he deserted his own mother when she was dying and pleading with him to come visit with him. I would feel good knowing that I was going to my grave finally saying what the whole family feels, but never voices. I would then probably chicken out and say I forgive him, but I've never told him how I feel. I don't want to poison the few remaning working relationships in that generation of my family.

PT: Session 2

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 01:27:03 GMT

I am glad to say that I have the rotator cuff of a sissy? And yes, my PT is a sadist. He's not at all ashamed of it. "We'll just keep doing this until it doesn't hurt" Oh joy. On the other hand, I am not in pain the way I was after the evaluation. On the other hand, the actual massage/stretch HURT! A lot. I had to giggle when we got to the exercise portion of the session though. They gave me cute little tiny weights to work with. Anyone want to guess what color? You got it! Purple! The must have known I was coming... (I did make an appointment) Ok, off to do my PT homework.

PT continued

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:53:27 GMT

Just to clear up from my last post. My Therepist was quite clear what he was doing was going to hurt. He was going around come muscles to get to others. Or some such thing. On the other hand, using a tennis ball on the wall to self massage the back of my shoulder sooooo works! I just hate going because of my agoraphobia. I knew I would have pain from the massage, and will not be given deep massage every time. Thanks for the support!

PT

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:30:05 GMT

Oh, horrors. Today I was introduced to deep muscle massage. I love physical therapy. NOT! But hopefully they can make the original pain go away, Stay away, and never come back. I'm really tired of injuring this shoulder in the exact same way every 3-4 months... On the other hand, It is showing me new levels of different pain in different places from my treatment today. Great. Three times a week for a month. At least the Therapist and Tech are cute. The Tech looks like a dark haired young Obi Wan.... Can't really complain about that!

!0% goal

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:37:25 GMT

I actually made my 10% goal Saturday. Wheee! I have a life time goal that I've set up with my doctor of 150. I figure I can break that down into two or three steps. I'm pleased with this, since I feel like I can get down to that if I keep active. For me, it's not so much the food, it's the exercise. I am such a couch potatoe! Living in a neighborhood where nothing is within walking distance is what put most of the weight on. Dancing for myself in the evenings to Bagpipes seems to be taking it off.. Go Celitc Rock!

Deployed to Iowa

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:09:20 GMT

Ok, I am right now heading for my car. Driving up to Iowa. If I'm not back by August, someone send a boat! Wish me luck. It will be Willow's first depolyment, so it will be easier on me, but interesting to seee how she copes. Miss you all.

Flooding E.A.R.S.

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:38:25 GMT

Odd. My collage that I went to (University of Iowa) gets flooded, (along with where I grew up, where all my friends live, and just about everything within the state of Iowa) and I get a message from my volunteer organization (EARS- Emergency Animal Rescue Services) to deploy. So it looks very likely that I will be leaving for home in the next few days, to help set up emergency animal shelters in the flood areas. I've done this before, but doing it where I grew up, and found my life is going to be odd.

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 22:02:36 GMT

1. Where is your cell phone? table
2. Where is your signifigant other? Bed
3. Your hair? Graying
4. Your mother? Dead
5. Your father? Iowa
6. Your favorite thing? Friends
7. Your dream last night? Dragons
8. Your dream/goal? Happiness
9. The room you're in? Livingroom
10. Your fear? Abandonment
11. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Content
12. Where were you last night? Dinner
13. What you're not? Brave
14. Muffins? Yes
15. One of your wish list items? Job
16. Where you grew up? Newton
17. The last thing you did? Laundary
18. What are you wearing? Nightgown
19. Your TV? off
20. Your pet? barking
21. Your computer? PC
22 Your life? good
23. Your mood? tired
24. Missing someone? yes
25. Your car? old
26. Something you're not wearing? socks
27. Your summer? Hot
28. Your favorite color? Purple
29. When is the last time you laughed? today
30. Last time you cried? today
31. Who will resend this? you

A little help from my friends?

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:00:09 GMT

Ok, odd request. I'm trying to put together a list of positive things I want in a new job. I can only come up with two.

1)They are happy to have Willow there.
2)I am intellectually fulfilled by my work.

There have to be other positive things that can be offered in a job space! Help me with positive thinking please!

Meme

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:16:52 GMT

1. Birthplace - Newton, Iowa
2. Current Location - Home in Austin, Tx
3. The Shoes you wore today - So far, pink ballet slippers while I was dancing for exercise
4. How old will you be in five years? - 45
5. When is the last time you saw your mom? - Sept 6, 1993. 4:37pm when I held her hand as she died
6. Do you wear slippers? -nope, I'm a barefoot gilr
7. Where is your favorite place to be? - With my dogs
8. Do you tan or burn? - Burn, then I tan
9. What did you fear would get you at night as a child? The dead I couldn't even watch commercials for zombie movies with out having night mares (ironic yes?)
10. Do you use a laptop or desktop computer for personal use? Both when the work
11. What color are your walls? Which ones? Most are white, guest bed room is light blue. Changes planned for the future.
12. How many pillows do you sleep with? One for me, one for Bob
13. What is your favorite season? Fall
14. What do you like best about fall? - Colors of the leaves, and the smell
15. What do you like best about winter? -New 'virgin' snow... The kind that squeaks when you walk on it.
16. What do you like best about spring? - The wildflowers,
17. What do you like best about summer? -The wind that blows in the evening.
18. What states have you lived in? - Iowa, Texas, California
19. Have you ever tried escargot? - Yep, pretty good
20. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? - Why choose?
21. What is your favorite dessert? White cake with white butter cream icing
22. What kind of jelly do you put on your PB&J? - Strawberry. And sometimes odd mixes that catch my eye in the store.

Good Bye Old Memories

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:06:51 GMT

Wow, just saw on the news that the Scout Camp our Church would rent out was badly hit by the Iowa Tornadoes. Bad enough with the flooding up there. The camp was supposee to be full. I don't know what to say. I just feel sick.

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:01:19 GMT

Some one help me... Please? I'm so bored, I just watched "celebritie Circus?" OMG What has me worried, is that I actually like 2 out of the 6 performers.

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:40:48 GMT

What's a fact about the last person who called you?
He used to have hair all the way down his back. People would ask if he and his X-wife were sisters.

It's 4 in the morning, your phone rings...
And Bob answers it.

What is your favorite thing to eat?
Right now, A slimfast Strawberry Shake, with a banana added in.

Where was your default picture taken?
In my living room.

Do you wear Crocs?
No, but I just bought a pair of sketchers that look like Crocs?

Do you prefer warm or cold weather?
I love the first snow, but I hate being cold. So I prefer to watch hot weather from my airconditioned house.

What do you currently hear right now?
airconditioner

What do you think your best friends are doing right now?
Working and playing Wow, watching their kids.

What's your favorite Gatorade flavor?
If I'm thirsty enough to be drinking Gatorade, I don't care what flavor.

What’s your favorite thing to have on your bed?
Willow, my dog.

Who would be the first people to know if you got pregnant?
Bob

What was the last movie you went to see?
Iron Man

Something you just don't understand?
people who abuse animals

Where were you on July 4th, 2007?
Home

Is there someone on your mind that shouldn't be?
No, Just Aaron's voice as usual.

What was your first thought when you looked in the mirror this morning?
To be honest, I don't look in the mirror if I can help it.

Do you care what others think about you?
Yes, but I don't want to.

Do you think you'll be married in 10 years?
Unless something takes Bob from the world, yes.

What made you happy today?
being awakened by my cat kneading my neck.

What do you look forward to in the next 3 months?
The Cons and vacations we have planned

How many people do you trust 100%?
None. Bob is close, but not even him

Who was the last person you called?
Bob

What was the last thing you laughed really hard about?
A evil psychotic moment in one of my role playing games. (thank you Aaron!)

When was the last time you got flowers?
Geee, I know Bob has given me some, but I don't remember when)

Do you plan on moving in the next year?
Heck no!

Do you like the last person you kissed?
I hope so, I'm married to him

Where did you get the shirt you are wearing?
Think it was a gift from my sister-in-law.

Ever kissed anyone 20 or older?
Ahhh, yes, lots

Have you kissed anyone in the past week?
Yes

Is there one place you'd like to visit?
Ireland

Have you held hands with anyone in the past three days?
Yes

Do you regret anything?
Not telling my mother I was proud of her before she died.

What are you excited about?
Getting my library cleaned and organized... (almost there!)

Do you like to cuddle?
With animals, yes, with people... not usually...

Where is your number one person on your friends list?
Had to look it up, but she's in Milwaukee

Stolen from rosiewook

Sneaky, Sneaky, Dog!

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:16:41 GMT

As I turned my back this evening and I discovered two things. One- Willow really really likes my strawberry slimfast shake. two- The supposed 4 hr hunger control works no better on my dog than it does on me, she snarfed her supper an hour later not prob. I love my dog!

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:26:00 GMT

And now for something completely different!!!!!

Stolen from corellian_sugar Eliz, and others:
The Friday Five - Randomsity

1. If you had to participate in one Olympic event, what would it be and why?
Equestrian Dressage... Cause then I would have a great talented horse, and get lots of training. I love nothing more than getting that moment when you and your horse are REALLY comunicating together.

2. What is the one song you always sing along to?
Yes, if I know the words, it's more likely... but if I've heard the tune before... I'm at least humming.

3. Do you wear a seatbelt in the car?
Yes, No one gets in the car with Bob and doesn't wear a seat belt more than once.

4. Car, suv or truck and why?
Suburu WRX... Sports Wagon?... Fun to drive, but fits all the dogs and cats.

5. Are you a good/bad driver? Explain.
I am usually a good driver, but I don't like driving. I had only one accident that was my fault (as apposed to being back ended, or such) but that was so tramatic, that I don't think my fiend who was in the car will ever drive with me again. On the other hand, I go out of my way to avoid the corner where it happened... So Can't blame her.

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:17:03 GMT

only one point off VERY PERFECT...... Don't think my hubby would agree... Think it has to do with my mother's 'be polite' raising, and not having kids....But who knew?

As a 1930s wife, I am
Superior

Take the test!

Beach Meme

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:19:07 GMT

What the Beach Test Says About You

You like people, but you're careful about who you get close to. Friendship is important to you... so important that you aren't just friends with anyone.

You have cold feet when it comes to love. You have a lot of uncertainty until you convince yourself to dive right in.

You are deeply passionate about several things in your life. You're not passionate about much... and the few passions you have are truly obsessions.

Your sense of humor is sarcastic, snarky, and realistic. You're not exactly happy-go-lucky.

The Beach Test

Gotta love the last bit... I'm not sarcastic... Never. Really.